Alumni

Alumni Travel Programs

TravelWhether you are planning a trip of a lifetime, a return to a favorite destination, or simply looking for your next adventure, the WIU Alumni Travel Abroad Program is a great place to start your journey. WIU Alumni & Friends are invited to join your Alumni Association and other Western alumni in traveling and learning opportunities worldwide on an Alumni Travel Abroad Program.

We will happily send you information including features, itineraries, and pricing. Questions or desire a reservation? We're just a phone call away!  Call (309) 298-1914, or email a-association@wiu.edu.

See the world with your WIU Alumni Association!

If you have traveled with us recently, please fill out our online evaluation form HERE.

We OFFER Travel Protection for all types of travel

Whether you decide to travel with WIU or even for trips you take on your own, the WIU Alumni Association offers protection for all types of trips. Whenever you travel, we strongly recommend you protect your travel investment with trip insurance. A travel protection plan can cover you for many unexpected disruptions you may encounter as specified in the plan, including trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delays, baggage loss or delay, emergency medical expense, emergency medical evacuation, and more.

There are many plans on the market from which to choose. One plan option is the Travel Insurance Select plan available to our travelers from USI Travel Insurance Services. For more than a decade, USI Travel Insurance Services has provided travel protection plans for alumni and friends. Every year, the Travel Insurance Select plan provides coverage to thousands of alumni travelers just like you. Be sure you are insured for your next trip – whether participating in a WIU Travel Abroad Program or traveling on your own.

If you buy your plan early, you also have the option to add the Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR)* upgrade, which affords you more flexibility if you decide to cancel your trip. Click here for more information or to quote and enroll before you hit the road, sea or ocean. Or call 800-937-1387 for more information or to enroll by phone. (When calling, be sure to mention that you are with the WIU Alumni Association.)

*CFAR is offered at an additional premium. In order to be eligible for CFAR, you must buy your plan within 21 days of the date in which your initial trip deposit is received. Additional conditions apply. Not available to residents of NY. Read plan documents for terms, conditions and exclusions .

NOTE: The itinerary(ies) outlined below is preliminary and is subject to change due to operational conditions.

insurance

Upcoming Trips

2026


2026 WIU Alumni Travel Program

Charleston / African American Experience
April 12 – 17, 2026
from $4,245 + air

charlestonEmbark on an inspirational exploration of the African American experience in Charleston that illuminates a triumphant resilience and spirit despite a painful past. At renowned preservation sites and museums, delve into the moving stories and contributions of African Americans who shaped the city. Gain fascinating insights at the new International African American Museum and contemplate the daily lives of enslaved Africans at two historic plantations and a city townhouse. While exploring Charleston’s landmarks, tour the Old Slave Mart Museum and learn about the celebrated master blacksmith behind the city’s finest ornamental wrought iron. Visit Mother Emanuel AME Church for a private lecture from a longtime congregant and expand your understanding of African American history at the Avery Research Center. You’ll also delight in the vibrant Gullah culture on a themed tour and at the Gibbes Museum of Art, plus relish delicious Gullah Geechee and classic Lowcountry dishes along the way! This engaging, small-group program features five nights at a first-class hotel; expert lecturers and guides; and a professional Travel Director.

(For more information or to make a reservation for this Alumni Holidays trip, call 800-323-7373 or CLICK HERE.)

Barcelona ~ Art, Culture & People / Serene Season
April 16 – 24, 2026
$4,745 + air

barc26Experience Spain’s cosmopolitan, historic, gastronomic city of Barcelona on this enriching 7-night experience — with fewer crowds! Unpack once, stay at a first-class hotel in the city's heart and set out on daily excursions to explore Barcelona’s renowned art, culture, architecture, and tantalizing food and wine. Delve into Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter as you stroll medieval streets, drive up to iconic Montjuïc Hill for breathtaking views and down to Barcelona’s picturesque, historic waterfront. During guided visits, witness renowned Art Nouveau works, including the extraordinary Hospital Sant Pau campus and modernist architect Antoni Gaudí’s iconic La Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell. Tour the stunning Palau de la Música concert hall and the renowned Picasso Museum, and stroll the atmospheric El Born neighborhood. Plus, taste delicious Spanish tapas and wines during a tapas bar stroll, relish lunch at a Catalan farmhouse restaurant, and participate in a traditional Catalan cuisine cooking class. This small-group program features enrichment from expert guides and lecturers and a generous meal plan, including wine with dinner!

(For more information or to make a reservation for this Alumni Holidays trip, call 800-323-7373 or CLICK HERE.)

Greece ~ Athens & Kalamata
May 29 – June 7, 2026
$4,495 + air

greeceGreece’s cultural riches, from the glorious remnants of ancient civilizations to a palate-pleasing bounty of wine, olives and seafood, await you on this eight-night journey to Athens and Kalamata! Ascend the Acropolis to admire the Parthenon and sweeping views of Athens. Visit the celebrated birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games at Olympia and explore the fortified Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae. Set off to an under-the-radar gem, the beautifully preserved classical city Messene, and discover a one-of-a-kind treasure, mountainside Mystras, an important center of Byzantine culture. During your stay in seaside Kalamata, savor the bustling coastal life, its namesake olives and freshly caught seafood. A wine tasting and a fun-filled dinner with music and dancing complement this exceptional, small-group experience! You’ll also learn about Greek history, from classical to contemporary, during illuminating lectures with experts. Includes deluxe and first-class hotels and a generous meal plan with wine at dinner. Solo travelers enjoy no single supplement!

(For more information or to make a reservation for this Alumni Holidays trip, call 800-323-7373 or CLICK HERE.)

Malta & Sicily
September 25 – October 5, 2026
$5,295 if booked by 1/27/26 + air 

malta26Join an enriching, nine-night journey that reveals the remarkable history of Malta and Sicily! Shaped by a marvelous mosaic of cultures, these beautiful islands between Europe and northern Africa abound with impressive treasures. Over four nights in Sliema, Malta, and five nights in Taormina, Sicily, behold illustrious monuments of antiquity. In Malta, take in Hagar Qim and Ggantija, fascinating Neolithic temples older than the Great Pyramids and Stonehenge. In Sicily, appreciate the glorious Greek ruins of Agrigento and Syracuse and some of the world’s most spectacular Roman mosaics. You’ll also delight in baroque gems tucked within Valletta, Malta’s intimate capital, and savor the breathtaking scenery of Taormina, Sicily’s chic resort town. Stroll along the narrow lanes of atmospheric Mdina and Rabat in Malta and picturesque Ortygia in Sicily on guided tours, plus delve into enduring traditions like Sicilian pizza making and Maltese sea salt farming. On this active, small-group adventure, enjoy first-class hotels, expert insights from guides and lecturers, and the Mediterranean’s acclaimed cuisine with wine at dinner.

(For more information or to make a reservation for this Alumni Holidays trip, call 800-323-7373 or CLICK HERE.)

Ireland / Riches of the Emerald Isle
October 11 – 21, 2026
$5,995 if booked by 1/27/26 + air 

ireland26Ireland’s outstanding culture and breathtaking beauty take center stage on this effervescent 9-night journey, featuring stays in Ennis, Killarney and Dublin. Get to know charming Ennis while listening to entertaining tales of banshees and magic. Savor exquisite views along the spectacular Cliffs of Moher and enjoy ferry rides to explore the Dingle Peninsula and Inishmore in the Aran Islands. Continue to the scenic Ring of Kerry and learn about traditional shepherding during a border collie herding demonstration. At Killarney National Park, ride in a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car and cruise the beautiful Lakes of Killarney. Stroll Dublin’s historic streets, visit Trinity College and join a tour of Dublin’s famous food culture. This well-rounded, small-group program features a whiskey tasting, a special show in a musician’s home and a lively performance by a céilí band and dancers. Enjoy stays at deluxe and first-class hotels and a generous meal plan with wine at dinner.

(For more information or to make a reservation for this Alumni Holidays trip, call 800-323-7373 or CLICK HERE.)

Florence ~ Art, Culture & People / Serene Season
October 30 – Nonvember 7, 2026
$4,795 if booked by 2/24/26 + air 

florence26Experience the true essence of enchanting Florence during a quieter time of year on this delightful, seven-night journey. Simply unpack once at your deluxe hotel and savor la dolce vita! Stroll through the city’s romantic piazzas and intimate streets, a veritable outdoor museum of Renaissance glories, and appreciate Michelangelo’s David and the Uffizi’s incomparable art. Admire the striking Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, topped by Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome, and cross the Arno River by way of the famed Ponte Vecchio. At one of the city’s oldest cafés, delve into the social rituals behind Italy’s passion for coffee. You’ll also set off into rural Tuscany to take in the medieval splendor of hill towns San Gimignano, Colle di Val d’Elsa and Siena. Sip Italy’s renowned Chianti wine in the breathtaking countryside, plus watch and learn as a local chef whips up an authentic Tuscan lunch. On this small-group experience, enjoy enrichment from expert guides and lecturers as well as a generous meal plan with wine at dinner.

(For more information or to make a reservation for this Alumni Holidays trip, call 800-323-7373 or CLICK HERE.)

Alumni Holidays

AHI Travel is a creative, family-owned travel company that has been providing the best in deluxe educational travel experiences since 1962. Recognized around the world the for their expertly planned and operated programs, they are the premier operator of travel for university alumni associations. They are proud that many of our travelers have chosen to travel with us on 15, 20 and even 30 trips because of their attention to detail, excellent service and innovative travel programs.

In addition to the featured Western Illinois University travel programs sponsored for alumni and friends, the Alumni Association also provides you the opportunity to travel independently on all AHI programs and dates .

AHI Health and Safety Protocols

AHI health and safety protocols

Insurance benefits in the plans are subject to exclusions and limitations, including an exclusion for pre-existing conditions.

The plan contains insurance benefits underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company as well as non-insurance Travel Assistance Services that are provided by On Call International. Coverages may vary and not all coverage is available in all jurisdictions. Individuals looking to obtain additional information regarding the features and pricing of each travel plan component, please contact USI Insurance Services, LLC d/b/a USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services with its principal place of business at 3805 West Chester Pike, Suite 200, Newtown Square, PA, 19073; 1-800-937-1387; info@travelinsure.com. CA license #OG11911. CA DOI toll free number: 800-927-4357.  MD Insurance Administration: 800-492-6116.

* The insurance benefits that are part of the plans are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company.  As a travel retailer, Western Illinois University Alumni Association and its employees may transact Travel Insurance on TIS’s behalf and under TIS’s direction, including offering/disseminating information on their behalf, including brochures, buyer guides, descriptions of coverage, and price, referring specific coverage/feature/benefit questions to TIS, disseminating/processing applications for coverage, coverage selection forms, or other similar forms, collecting premiums on TIS’s behalf, and receiving/recording information to share with TIS. Purchasing a travel plan is not required in order to purchase any other products or services offered by Western Illinois University Alumni Association.